Zisiene runs into Xanthee at The Tea Room, and a bit of gossip is had with a side of tea.

When

Lost the IC Date due to a hiccup with my client. Time is Summer evening, and very hot?

Where

The Tea Room

OOC Date

27 Mar 2018 04:00

The Tea Room

This shop is easy to miss from the street. It bears the same striped awning that most shops have, this one in shades of lilac and sand, but it has no sign save for a plaque of sandstone hung beside the door, on which a teacup has been carved. When open, the heavy curtain that covers the doorway is pulled aside to allow entry. After stepping through, one will find themselves in a tiny space decorated with classic desert touches.

The walls are whitewashed to increase the sense of light within but the floor is tiled in hues of blue and green, with each tile bearing in its center a brilliant red lotus. There are only five small tables, all of them of dark, heavily carved wood set low to the ground. To sit at one requires reclining on the plethora of pillows and cushions and layered rugs provided for that purpose; each seat is provided with a carved wooden back-prop to rest the pillows against, for those who want spinal support. Tea is served from the service at the rear of the room, where a tiny smokeless hearth keeps water heated, and a row of trays are kept loaded with teapots, tiny cups, and containers for sweetener. There is a small selection of fruits, breads and cheeses also available for those looking for a snack but this is not a place for heavy meals.

For once Xanthee isn't here at the Tea Room working. Dressed in one of her more breezy tunic dresses, falling to her knees with small capped sleeves and a rounded neckline. Raven tresses cascade over her shoulders and down her back as she wanders in, arm crooked to her chest and cradling something there. Once she finds herself a table to sit down at, she slips down into the cushions and adjusts herself illiciting a squeak from whatever it is she is carrying so carefully.

Silence has become a habit with the rather short woman that follows in after Xanthee. The brooding expression likewise has become a permenant fixture on Zisiene's face, and is that a touch of gray in the woman's hair? So young for such a thing. The squeak earns interest from Moss, who lifts from Isie's shoulder to make her way over to plop onto the table top in front of Xanthee. Whazzat? Quizzical look given to the something cradled, Isie glides up behind her green, "She's far too curious sometimes," is said softly, "May I?" a nod to the opposite side of the table from Xan.
who/e

Quite distracted, Xanthee doesn't notice anyone following her. So when Moss flops on the table in front of her, the young woman will jump slightly as she looks up, the jostling bringing another sleepy protest from the now visible golden firelizard hatchling in the crook of her arm. She cuddles the little queen and shushes soothingly. "It's ok Selkie, go back to sleep now." Her emerald eyes flick up at Zisiene and she offers the Zingari woman a half-smile. "Of course." she says nodding for the older woman to take a seat before she continues. "Careful bringing her in here if she doesn't behave. The proprietor prefers a quiet place for the customers, she doesn't really allow them in here. My three know to not follow me in. Well my three fully grown ones anyway." she smiles down again at the little queen.

Zisiene gives a short shrug as she looks at the tiny gold, "Lovely little thing," she answers as she scoops Moss up, the small moss colored green soon arranges herself so that she looks like nothing more than a decorative collar around the back of Zisiene's neck, "She usually doesn't move unless I say she can. She's not Stone," who is conspicous by her absense, "How old is she?" is asked. Moss having garnered little attention aside from the odd curious glance, "And what's good in here?" Isie hasn't been able to venture into the bakery now that it's being run by someone completely new.

Raising a brow at the green being settled around the Zingari woman's neck, Xanthee merely shrugs her shoulders, "Well don't say I didn't warn you if someone ends up saying something." Looking back down at the hatchling she elaborates, "If this one hadn't just hatched a earlier today I wouldn't dream of bringing her in here, but I need to get my tea." Luckily for them, the server comes round and gives Xan a big smile, "Back from Candidacy then? You coming back to work soon?" the raven haired girl smiles back, "Soon yes, I'm just taking some time to catch up a bit with people." And by people, she means her Miner-love which is evident by her playful wink. The server laughs heartily, "So you're here for that tea then?" and she nods affirmatively before turning to Zisiene.

The banter is observed, "What would you recommend?" she asks, this isn't the bakery she grew up in. So the fair is obviously going to be different, and Zisiene's willing to take the advice of those that work in the tea room.

"Depends on what you like…" Xanthee answers honestly, although she's not on the clock so she will defer to server who pipes up with, "The Zingari blue is always a good one. Very soothing and slightly floral." she adds "Of course, our house black is very popular is you want a less fancy tea." Xanthee is busy stroking the distended golden belly of her firelizard while the other woman makes her choice.

She's familiar with the Zingari Blue so, "Let's go with the house black," Zisiene says, her selection is perhaps not what one would expect. There's even a small smile given to the server as Isie adds, "And a sandwich, if you have them?"

"No we don't, but I could do you a plate with some bread, cheese and fruit." The server adds with a smile. Xanthee pipes up then, "Oh, could you get me one of those berry pastries too? Blueberry if you have them." she adds before adjusting her hold on the little gold so that she's laying along her forearm now, wings slack and spilling over the girl's arm.

Zisiene gives a nod, "Sounds good," she answers with that same small, almost forced, smile. It's been a while since a genuine smile has been seen on Zisiene's face, but she's at least making an effort.

Once the server is gone, Xanthee will turn back to Zisiene, "So what's all the gossip among the Zingari lately? I am woefully behind on the news. You spent sometime outside the Weyr didn't you?" She adds conversationally.

"I've been pretty much keeping to myself," she gives her own belly a jaundiced eye. How long has it been since her last monthly? Surely she's just miscalculated, "Let's just say there's likely to be a boom in the Zingari population in the near future," she's still not sure she likes the idea of having one of those screaming, squaling, squirmy, tiny humans to deal with. Isie's not the mothering type, "Some people are walking around on eggshells worried there's some kind of illness going round," aweful lot of people being sick in the mornings. Seems suspicious to Isie, "Myself included," my now isn't that a juicy bit of whatever it is. Though, knowing Isie, she's probably just been drinking too hard.

The trader woman's words makes Xanthee's thick eyebrows hike up onto her forehead with surprise as she ponders what she is saying. "Well I mean, hasn't there been one already? Willa must have had hers by now, and I still need to see Reveka, haven't talked to her since I found out about..well..you know." She sighs at thinking about that, torn at the idea of seeing her friend again after all these months and how much she must have changed.

Zisiene gives a nod, "Willa has had hers," is confirmed, "But there's women going round worrying," she's one of them, "Not too many," at the moment anyway, "Reveka's looking well enough," Isie says, then she adds, "If you ask me, there's some that may have just ditched their morning teas all together," maybe, hard to say and Isie's speculating anyway. The door opens, and the smell of breads from the bakery waft in, then the door shuts again. That small smile Isie'd managed vanishes, and there's marks dropped on the table top, "I've lost my appitite," she says as she stands, "Please, enjoy the tea and nibbles," and she's heading for the door.